Monte Sainte Anne

Monte Sainte Anne 

Monte Sainte Anne is a beautiful resort located in Quebec, 30 minutes outside of Quebec City. With 46 runs and 465 acres of skiable terrain it is one of the largest ski resorts in Eastern Canada. With 80% of the runs rated blue (difficult) to double black (extremely difficult) it is a hill best suited for experienced skiers.

Monte Sainte Anne does not have a village at its base, but there are several hotels and rental chalets extremely close to the base. I recommend a chalet complex fifteen minutes away from the hill called ‘Club Vacances Toutes Saisons’. Reasonably priced with a delicious restaurant on site, it is a convenient and cozy chalet.

The terrain at Monte Sainte Anne is quite varied. With moguls, glades and a terrain park known as the “Dragon Zone” there is something for everyone. Two of my must-skis are ‘La Crete’, a long black diamond run on the south side of the mountain, and a blue glade run called ‘La Rigolo’.

Quaint Streets of Quebec City

One of my favourite aspects of Monte Sainte Anne is the fact that it is so close to Quebec City. I suggest leaving the hill early one day and spending the afternoon and evening in Quebec City. With quaint streets and 100 year old buildings, it is a beautiful city to explore by foot and no matter how many times I have been, I always find something new.

For more information visit www.monte-sainte-anne.com.

                                                                                  Happy skiing!

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a breathtakingly beautiful resort located in Banff National Park. It is the biggest ski resort in the Canadian Rockies and one of the largest in North America. With over 4200 skiable acres and 139 named runs Lake Louise offers something for all skiers. It claims to have “more terrain than can be skied in a week”. I can attest to this as I have skied there several times and still feel like I have more discover on the vast mountain.

Lodge of Ten Peaks at Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a resort that does not offer on-hill accommodation. The closest accommodation is Chateau Lake Louise, which is extremely expensive so I recommend staying in Banff. The drive from Banff to Lake Louise is 45 minutes, but it goes by quickly because the scenery is so gorgeous. By staying in Banff you will save money and get to explore the stunning ski town.

My favourite area to ski at Lake Louise is the ‘Powder Bowls’. This above tree line area features over 25 runs, of varying difficulties, in 9 consecutive bowls. This area is known for its powder snow and sun bathed runs.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel

Banff offers a wide variety of restaurants. My favourite pub in town is the Rose & Crown Pub, located on Banff’s main strip, which offers delicious pub food at a reasonable price. A great spot for dinner is the Grizzly House, a fondue restaurant that offers exotic local meats such as caribou and elk. Wherever you end up eating you MUST explore Banff. There is so much to see, so make sure you set aside time to walk around. A Banff landmark (that most of us cannot afford to stay at) is The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. I highly recommend going inside and looking around.

For more information visit www.skilouise.com and www.banff.ca.

Happy skiing!

Panorama Mountain Village

This week I have chosen to discuss Panorama Mountain Village, one of my favourite ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies. Voted number one family ski destination by Ski Canada Magazine, it is a great ski destination to spend quality time with family and friends.

I recommend flying into the Calgary airport, renting a car and taking the breathtakingly beautiful drive along the TransCanada Highway and across the transcontinental divide. Just before arriving at Panorama you will pass through the small town of Invermere. This is a great place to buy groceries for the week as they are much cheaper than the small grocery store in the village.

The view from"View of 1000 Peaks" 

 With over 2,847 acres of terrain Panorama offers something for every level of skier as 75% of the runs are suitable for beginners and intermediates. It is known for its long, groomed cruisers, but also has plenty of high alpine skiing. My must-ski’s include Taynton Bowl (black diamond) and on sunny days, View of 1000 Peaks (blue).

Panorama Hot Springs

The base of Panorama is lined with condos that you can rent. I highly recommend staying in one that is right on the hill. There is something magical about being able to ski right into your condo. Panorama is famous for their Panorama Springs Hot Pools, giant pools naturally heated by the earth. Definetly a must-try! The village at Panorama is quaint but full of charm. Featuring eight restaurants and bars I highly recommend T-Bar for après and Mile High Pizza for a delicious dinner. Panorama is also a great location to stay in at night and cook your own meals with family and friends while a log burns in the fireplace. 

For more information visit www.panoramaresort.com.

Happy skiing!

Mont Tremblant - Eastern Canada's Best

This week I chose to write about my favourite ski resort in Eastern Canada, and one that is within driving distance for Ontarians. This resort is Tremblant. It has the highest summit and most runs in Quebec it also features a beautiful village filled with restaurants, night life and a ski-vibe that cannot be beat.

Mont Tremblant

When skiing at Tremblant I would definitely recommend staying on-hill. Tremblant offers a wide variety of on-hill accommodations including hotels, condos, and chalets. By staying on-hill you will experience the Tremblant ‘lifestyle’ and get to enjoy the ski hill and village without even having to get in a car.

The skiing at Tremblant is awesome. My favourite area on the hill is “The Edge”. This area offers groomed runs but also varying difficulty glade runs. My brother and I spent hours on The Edge in the glades when we were kids. I definetly recommend checking it out.

Mont Tremblant's Village

The village is one of my favourite aspects of the hill. It offers a large variety of restaurants and shops. I love walking through the village and taking in the sights while soaking in the ski lifestyle. Two of my favourite restaurants are le Shack and le Diable. These restaurants are both very casual but offer deliciously beautiful food. From poutine to double-decker hamburgers they offer something for everyone. Le Shack is also the number one bar for après on the hill (as voted 16 years in a row). Another of my favourite bars to après at is Bullseye Bar. Located at the bottom of the hill it features over 25 varieties of beer and an awesome spot to kick back after a day spent             on the hill.

A must-eat at Tremblant is the traditional Beavertail. A deep fried piece of dough topped with everything delicious. My favourite is cinnamon and sugar! Another secret treat can be found at the base of the North Side of the mountain. A tiny wood hut pours warm maple sugar onto snow. Then the frozen, gooey maple syrup is wrapped around the stick and ready to eat . SO GOOD!

Tremblant is a wonderful destination for all levels of skiers and a great place to spend time with family and friends in the village and on the slopes. To check out more of what Tremblant has to offer visit the website at www.tremblant.ca.

Feel free to post any questions or comments.

Happy skiing!